Portable cooker



- l WMI y w saN Il l' July 9, 1968 J. A. LEMMoNs TAL 3,391,685

PORTABLE COOKER Filed Jan. 20, 1966l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 36 |I l l l l l N'WW w' w1 i 92'," 3.93m il# z 'Mm I Noo i@ :'zz 26 34 sa Wo. H t `5 N3.5' 20 I I Y *26 /6 July 9. 1968 J. A. LEMMONS ETAL 3,391,585

PORTABLE COOKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1966 Joe A. Lemmon: FredA. Lemmon: Floyd J. Page 5 INI/ILNTORS BY w 4 Amrum United States PatentO 3,391,685 PORTABLE COOKER Joe A. Lemmons, 302 Corrigan, Fred A.Isemmons, 1601 Phillips, and Floyd J. Page, 302 Corrigan, all ofBrownwood, Tex. 76801 Filed Jan. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 521,875 S Claims.(Cl. 126-I37) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE The portable knockdown cookershown is expressly, but not necessarily, designed and adapted foron-the-spot use in an indoors fireplace. The required fire can be builtin the fireplace or, alternatively, in an accompanying pan for charcoalbroiling. In both forms of the invention the horizontal grille isadjustable to the level desired on vertical support legs. These legs canbe self-standing (FIG. 7) or detachably suspended from hanger hooksbracketed to a fixed fireplace lintel (FIG. 3). The device `can be usedfor camping, backyard cookouts and set up or dismantled in minutes. Itis compact, convenient, and totally collapsible for storing andtransporting. It is light in weight but sturdy for heavy utensils andcan be used, without fire, as a fiower support and display rack in thefireplace or elsewhere.

The present invention relates to portable as Well as knockdown cookersand has reference to a structure which is adapted to be used, generallyspeaking, within the wall-enclosed confines of a fireplace, a barbecuepit, or the like Whenever one desires to use the device indoors oroutdoors, as the case may be.

Two embodiments or forms of the inventive concept are disclosed in theviews of the drawings and will be hereinafter generically andspecifically set forth and de fined.

Generically construed the structure has to do with a multipurposeadaptation, that is, one which not only lends itself to practical andfeasible use in a room fireplace but, in addition to its use forgrilling and barbecuing foods indoors, can be used as a fireplace rackin that it provides a feasible shelf on which the user can place pottedplants and flowers if so desired.

Briefly, the broad aspect of the invention is characterized by ascreened or grille-equipped frame which con stitutes and provides agrate (alternatively a shelf or rack) which is capable of use within theconfines of the Walls of the fireplace and is capable of supporting afry pan, cooking utensils or the like and is also usable as a foodcooking grille. The support means for the frame is characterized by apair of correspondingly constructed legs having means whereby the legsare capable of being vertically supported or suspended in spacedparallel relationship in an accessible front part of the fireplace. Thefront or outwardly disposed frame member of the frame is such that itbridges the support legs and has outstanding accessible handgrips. It isfurther provided with suitably constructed and arranged adapter bracketswhich are slidingly and removably mounted on their respectivelycooperable legs in a manner to support the frame in a plane at rifhtangles to the spaced parallel but common plane of the supported legs,this in a manner that the frame itself projects into the enclosed spacein the fireplace.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on one form or embodimentwherein the legs are T-shaped, have slotted upper ends capable of beingengaged with hooks, said hooks being carried by attaching brackets andsaid brackets being securely attachable to and hung from a lintel whichis positively anchored in the upper forward 3,391,635 Patented July 9,1968 ICS portion of the fireplace. The legs in this situationaccommodate brackets on the frame and the frame provides theaforementioned grille or rack. The brackets have setscrews and thesetscrews engage the suspended legs whereby to thus provide a simple,practical and acceptacle indoors cookout structure.

The other embodiment of the invention is characterized, as will be laterappreciated, -by a pair of L-shapcd leg units whose vertical portionsaccommodate brackets carried by the screened or grille'equipped frame,the frame members being provided with means such as cleats or the liketo accommodate chains. These chains are connected to corner portions ofa tray or pan and are also connectible with the cleats. The pan can beused either as a drip pan or as a tray for charcoal if one desires tobuild the fire in the receptacle portion of the tray or pan directlybeneath the grille or screen.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becoimesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the ac companying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a view in section and elevation with the invention inelevation and the View being taken on the plane of the irregular sectionline l-ll of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 2 is a front view or elevation showing the fireplace, forexample, an indoor replace with the insertable and removable as well asadjustable cooking device mounted for use therein, observing thestructure of FIGURE 3 in a direction from right to left;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a detail horizontal section on an enlarged scale on thesection line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view which shows most of theparticulars and which is taken on the plane lof the section line 5 5 ofFIGURE l;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line `66 of FIGURE5; and

FIGURE 7 is a View in perspective of the bodily insertable and removableknockdown cooking device, that is a modified fonm of the same.

Referring to FIGS. l to 6l, inclusive, the brick or equivalent built-infireplace (which may be construed as either indoors or outdoors) isdenoted by the numeral 10, the horizontal bottom being denoted at l2 andthe open front or hearth portion being denoted generally at I4. Thechimney is denoted at 16 in FIG. 3. As usual the upper frontal portionof the fireplace is provided with a reinforcing metal bar or lintel IS.In carrying out the principles of the invention the lintel IS (see FIG.5) serves to accommodate `attaching and anchoring fixtures, a pair ofsuch fixtures being used and each xture is or" elongated U-shaped formas denoted at 20 and has an upstanding pronged outer end 22 which isembedded around the edge of the forward portion of the lintel in themanner shown. The opposite lateral inward end portion 24 is providedwith a setscrew or equivalent clamping means 26 which is clamped againstthe inner edge of the lintel. Accordingly, the xture 20 is securelyattached to the lintel and each fixture is provided with a suitablypositioned adapter bracket which is of L-shaped form as ydenotedgenerally at 28. The vertical leg of the adapter bracket denoted at 30is provided on its inward side with a pair of opposed parallel hangerhooks 32. These brackebequipped fixtures are installed and of courseleft in place to accommodate the insertable and removable knockdowncooking device. This device as more coinpletely shown in FIGS. l to 4comprises a grate unit, more specifically a generally rectangular frame3d characterized by a rearward or inward frame member 36 which ischannel-shaped in form and integrally connected with a pair of sideframe members 38 and a forward or front frame members 4l) (see FIG. 4).These frame mem-bers support the rigid openwork screen or grating whichconstitutes the part described as the grille 42.

The forward frame members 40 is provided with means whereby it may `beadjustably and detachably joined with support means. The support meanshere comprises a pair of duplicate substantially rl`shaped suspendinglegs 44 (see FIG. 5) whose upper end portions 46 are provided withsuitably arranged and paired slots 48 which constitute keepers and arereleasably connected with the hanger hooks 32. For best results theforward member of the frame is provided with attaching brackets, therebeing two such brackets and each being the same in construction. Eachbracket is denoted by the numeral 48 and is of general U-shaped form andcomprises an upper arm 56 and an opposed spaced parallel lower arm 52,these arms having their end portions 54 straddling and connected withthe adjacent frame member 4t). The web portion 56 is provided with ascrew-threaded hole to accommodate the shank 58 of a setscrew 6o. Thisbracket and setscrew arrangement permits the brackets to =be slidinglyland adjustably mounted on the support or suspension legs 44. Toaccommodate the legs each of the arms of each bracket has a T-shapedslot 62 therein as shown in FIG. 6. It follows that the T-slottedbrackets are slidingly and detach-ably and adjustably mounted on thelegs 44 and the legs are hung from the hanger hooks 32 carried by theadapter brackets 30 on the fixtures 20.

The device as shown and described in detail in primarily designed andadapted to serve as an on-the-spot indoor fireplace cookout grille. Theparts are such that they fit well together and permit ready erection anddismantling. A consideration of the structure appearing in FIGS. 1 t-o 3in particular will show the structure and how it is assembled for use.When the device is not being used for indoor cooking purposes it can beemployed as a rack or shelf. This is to say, the grate or grille nowbecomes a handy shelf and one can support potted plants and flowers-thereon within the limits of the fireplace to add to the desired alcoveeffectif so desired.

The form of the invention shown in FIG. 7 is substantially the same asthat already described but will be touched upon separately. Here thegrate or grating cornprises a rectangular frame 64 having a forwardframe member 66, rearward or inward frame member 68 and side frame 70,said frame members supporting a suitably constructed and attached grilleor grating 72. In both forms of the invention the forward frame memberis provided With spaced apart handgrips 74. The handgrips in thisarrangement are spaced inwardly of the U-shaped end lbrackets 76. Hereagain the brackets have upper and lower arms 78 with T-shaped slots toaccommodate the T-shaped support legs or uprights 80. The desiredconnection is achieved by providing the web portions 82 with setscrews84. The leg means here is L-shaped in side elevation and includes ineach unit not only the vertical member 80 fbut the horizontal member S6which resides on the floor of the pit or fireplace in an obvious manner.For convenience these L-shaped units are referred to broadly at 88. Thenumeral 90 designates an open-top tray or pan which can be used as agrease pan or, alternatively, as a tray for charcoal briquets or thelike used in building a fire directly beneath the grille. The left andright walls of the tray have corner attached chains 92 which areconnected with keeper slots 94 provided therefor in oppositely disclosedcleats 96 mounted on the side frame `members 70. It will be obvious thatthis form of the invention is possessed of the general structuralcharacter'- istics and purposes of thc forni shown in FlGS. l to 6nclusive. It is believed that the construction of the parts, the mannerin which they are assembled and used in both forms of the invention willbe clear after having read the description of the details in conjunctionwith the views of the drawing. Accordingly, a more extended descriptionis believed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction Iand operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as followsi 1. A portable cooker of the classdescribed comprising a pair of substantially duplicate L-shaped membersconstituting companion support units, each unit embodying a horizontalleg and a vertical leg, said legs being substantially T-shaped incross-section, said units being adapted to assume spaced apart parallelrelationship when in use, a frame disposed at right angles to thevertical legs and having an openwork grille attached thereto, said framehaving a front frame member provided with outstanding handles and alsoprovided outwardly of the handles with a pair of substantially U-shapedbrackets, said brackets having arms straddling and affixed to the frontframe member and said arms having T-shaped slots slidingly receivingsaid vertical legs, said brackets being further provided with setscrewsengageable with said vertical legs and serving to detachably andadjustably mount the frame on said vertical leg.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and in combination, a pan having anopen top, said pan being of a size corresponding to and underlying saidframe in spaced relationship, said pan being provided -on end wallsthereof with attaching and adjusting chains, the side members of saidframe being provided with outstanding cleats, said cleats having notchesand said notches providing keeper slots, and free end portions of saidchains being releasably engageable with said keeper slots so as todetachably and adjustably mount the pan beneath the frame.

3. For use within the confines of a fireplace barbecue pit or the likeeither indoors or outdoors, a multi-purpose structure embodying a rigidgrille-equipped frame capable of supporting a fry pan, cooking utensilsor the like and, alternatively, usable as a food cooking grille, a pairof like legs having means whereby said legs may be vertically supportedin spaced parallel relationship in an accessible front part of saidfireplace, said frame having an outwardly positionable frame memberprovided with outstanding easily accessible and usable handgrips, saidframe member being further provided at the respective outer ends thereofwith adapter brackets slidingly and removably mounted on theirrespectively cooperable legs and supporting said frame in a plane atright angles to the horizontal plane of said legs with the entire frame`adapted to project into the fire isolating space of said fireplace,said handgrips being arranged in spaced parallel relationship inwardlyof their respectively adjacent brakets, said legs being T-shaped incrosssection and said brackets having corresponding T-shaped slotsconformingly and slidingly receiving their respectively cooperable legs.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, and wherein each bracket isU-shaped and embodies upper and lower arms having inward ends straddlingand affixed to a coacting portion of said outwardly disposed framemember, having ltheir outer ends joined by a web, said web beingequipped with a setscrew projecting into the space between the arms,said T-shaped slots being paired and aligned and coordinating inpermitting said T-shaped legs to be slidingly keyed therein.

5. The structure defined in and according to claim 3 and. wherein theside members of: said frame have fixed cleats with projecting endsbiturcated and defining keeper notches, a pan underling saidgrille-equipped frame in spaced parallel relation and disposed in aplane at right angles to said legs, and chains carried by and supportingsaid pan, said chains being detachably and adjustably supported by saidcleats.

6. The structure defined in and according to claim 3 and wherein themeans supporting said legs in vertical spaced parallel relationship atthe front part of said fireplace comprises a relatively stationaryhorizontal lintel, a pair of attaching and anchoring ixtures detachablyand adjustably mounted on and supported from longitudinally spacedportions of said lintel, each fixture provided with a companion adapterbracket, each bracket being provided with hanger hooks, the upper endportion of said legs being apertured and said apertured end portionbeing attached to and hung from their respectively cooperable hangerhooks.

7. For use within the wall enclosed contines of a fireplace, barbecuepit or the like either indoors or outdoors, a multipurpose structureembodying a rigid grilleequipped frame capable of supporting a fry pan,cooking utensils or the like and, alternatively, usable as a foodcooking grille, a pair of like legs having means whereby said legs maybe vertically supported in spaced parallel relationship in an accessiblefront part of said fireplace, said frame having an outwardlypositionable frame member provided with outstanding easily accessibleand usable handgrips, said frame member being further provided at therespective outer ends thereof with adapter brackets slidingly andremovably mounted on their respectively cooperable legs and supportingsaid frame in a plane at right angles to the horizontal plane of saidlegs with the entire frame adapted to project into the tire isolatingspace of said fireplace, said legs being L-shaped in side elevation andhaving vertical and horizontal component portions, said horizontalcomponent portions constituting feet adapted to reside iiatwise on thefloor of the iireplace for support, said handgrips being disposed inspaced apart parallel relationship inwardly of their respectivelyadjacent brackets, said legs being T-shaped in cross-section and saidbrackets having corresponding T-shaped slots conformingly and slidinglyreceiving their respectively cooperable legs, each adapter bracket beingU-shaped Iand embodying upper and lower arms having inward endsstraddling and affixed to a coacting portion of said outwardly disposedframe member, having their outer ends joined by a web, said web beingequipped with a setscrew projecting into the space between the arms,said T-shaped slots being paired and aligned and coordinating inpermitting said T-shaped legs to be slidingly keyed therein, the sidemembers of said frame having lixed cleats with projecting endsbifuracted and `defining keeper notches, a pan underlying saidgrilleequipped frame in spaced parallel relation and disposed in a planeat right angles to said legs, and chains carried by and supporting saidpan, said chains being detachably and adjustably supported by saidcleats.

8. A portable cooker comprising a pair of companion support `units eachunit embodying a vertical leg, said vertical legs being disposed inspaced apart parallel relationship, a frame disposed at right angles tosaid vertical legs, said frame provided with a complemental openworkgrille, said frame having a front member provided with brackets, saidbrackets being slidingly and adjustably mounted on their respectivelycooperable vertical legs, a pan having an open top, said pan being of asize corresponding to and underlying said frame in down- Wardly spacedgenerally parallel relationship, said pan being provided with end wallshaving pan attaching and adjusting chains thereon, the side members ofsaid frame being provided with outstanding chain lattaching cleats, saidcleats having notches, and said notches providing keeper slots for saidchains, and said chains having free end portions releasably andadjustably engageable with their respectively cooperable keeper slots ina manner to detachably and adjustably suspend the pan in cooperativerelationship beneath said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 957,324 5/1910 `Gall 248-245 X1,540,434 6/1925 Stone 126-9 2,425,036 8/1947 Howe 126h 30 X 2,604,8847/1952. Walker 126-30 2,900,897 8/1959 Fisher 126--25 X 3,311,105 3/1967Berger et al. 126-137 FOREIGN PATENTS 567,564 2/1945 Great Britain.

FREDERICK KETTERER, Primary Examiner.

